The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-25
L0NGAND SHORT HAULRATES
Representatives of Two Big Corpora
lions Appear Before the Commission.
The Lake Shore Asks Suspension of the Fourth
Clause Of the New Law and thePennsyl-
yania Enters 0bjection-LOcal Notes.

WASHINGTON, May 24-Mr. Green, Of Buffalo,
representing the Lake Shore g. Michigan South
ern railroad, and the Pittsburg g. Lake Erie
Railroad Company, to-day made argument
before the Interstate commerce Commission ia
support Of the petitions of those companies for
relief under the fourth section Of the act He
asked to be permitted to haul freight from Pitts
burg TO Eastern roints at the same rates made
by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to those
points, although those rates may be lower than
from some intermediate points from Youngstown
easterly
John Scott, AS attorney for the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, said ne had never known an
application 30 indefinite as that under consdera-
ton. 1t would. il granted, leave the companies
at liberty to fix their local rates at an indefinite
number of points without reference to geograph-
ical location.
John Newell, president and manager of the
Lake Shore company, and president of the
Pittsburg e. Lake Erie company, was examined
relative to the routes of these roads and their
tariffs. He said that he had heard no complaint
Of the local rates. and it was desirable that
these rates be maintained, while the through
rates are reduced in order to secure Pittsburg
business going to New York.
ID. S. Gray, of the western division of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, opposed the
application. He said that the rates of the Penn
sylvania had beer adjusted in conformity with
the terms of the law. and the result, up to the
present time had been satisfactory Possibly
exceptional circums tances might arise to cause
complaint, but he thought the railroads must
give and take in this matter, and the law should
be fairly tested.
Vice president Thompson, of the Pennsylvania
Company, said that the fourth section of the law
was. in some cases. beneficial to the railroads.
Here. for intance 1T prevented a long road, like
that represented by Mr.. Newell, from entering
into competition with short direct roads.
The Boston 81 Albany Railroad Company has
filed with the commission complaint against the
Boston e. Lowell the Concord, the Northern, the
Central Vermont and Grand Trunk railroad
companies, charging that these companies un-
der the name of National Dispatch line, have is
sued schedules OF joint rates to Detroit ard other
points in the West where they come in competi-
ton with the Boston e. Albany company and its
connections, which are less than those of the lat
ter companies to the same points, while at the
same time certain combination of roads,
GLIDING a part of the roads in the National Dis
patch line. viz: The Boston e. Lowell and the
Concord, Northern 81 Central Vermont-main-
tain higher rates to ST. Adams and other
intermediate points than the Dispatch line charg
10 terminal points-that is. higher rates for
the shor haul than for the long haul, the
same line, III the same direction. the five up
per classes of freight The Boston & Albany
also complains that the Boston & Lowell, the
IL,
Vermont and the Oedensburg & Lake Champlain
companies have made arrangements by which
the steamship company operated by the Ogdens-
burg e. Lake Champlain company has issued
tariff from Boston to the lake ports in the United
States, where it comes in competition with the
Boston 81 Albany, at a less rate than is charged
from Boston TO Ogdensburg and other points on
the same line at shorter distance from Boston
in the same direction.
Mr. Brown. in approving the suspension of the
clause, said the interstate law was framed not
OrllV a shinDera tv
from injury and destruction. and ruinous compe-
tition growing out of the old system of cutting
rates aud grasping at traffic that railroads were
not entitled to- In this case the commission was
asked to reinstate the Lake Shore road in the
enjoyment of privilege 1t was not
entitled to, and to re-establish of the gross
est abuses which made necessary the passage of
the interstate commerce law. IL the commits
sion granted the relief asked in this case, he
unable to see why any railroad company cannot
be justified in coming to the commission and
asking suspension of the long and short haul
clause with respect 90 any connection for traffic
IL might see fit to make
The commission. after listening to the argu-
ments, took the matter under advisement and
adjourned.
r. j. Brooks, representing the Pennsylvania.
James Reed. the Pittsburg, Lake Erie g. West
earn, and others, argued the question.
T. A. Delamater, superintendent of the
Meadville e. Louisville Railroad Company, ap-
peared to request a suspension of the long and
short-hsul clause far as it affects business on
that road, as to meet trunk-line rates.
One of the Atchison's Big Deals.
New YORK, May PA new railroad deal, in
which the Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe is said
to be interested. is now under way. which rail-
road men state will prove one of the most i'm
portent schemes ever carried out in the West.
It includes the purchase of the st. Louis g.
Chicago railroad, running from Springfield, ILL.,,
to st. Louis, and now extending its line to
Eureka. Ill, making direct connection with the
,Atchison and the Lake Erie e. Western This
would give the Atchison through line from
Chicago to St Louis, and make it's system
tirely independent +: e. Hinckley. formerly
president of the Chicago 81 St Louis
road. which was purchased by the
Atchison, Topeka e. Santa Fe, denies
that the Atchison company is interested in the
st. Louis & Chicago road 1t Is asserted. how
pver that Hinckley positively denied that he
bad sold his road. the Chicago & St Louis. to
The Atchison company. although the sale was
confirmed Immediately after the denial. At the
office of Frank 20. Hollins & Co.. fiscal agents
of the St Louis & Chicago railway, it was said
that Mr.. Hollins had just returned from the
West and declined to be interviewed on the sub
iect The fact that President Strong. of the
Atchson company, Hinckley, John D. Perry
and Frank G. Hollins were all at the Southern
Hotel. St. Louis, on the 18th inst is considered
suggestive OF negotiations in relation to the mat
ter.
Decision in n Big Case.